Craft for Climate is engaging our community in positive climate conversations to support optimism and empower action.

Problems don’t go away by ignoring them, especially the big ones. So let’s talk climate. Let’s unpack what it means for us – locally and as connected global citizens. Let’s share our concerns and connect with others who are taking positive action.

We have people working on this project from across the community; individuals and existing craft groups. Streets have signed up to collaborate. Businesses are donating materials. Local education settings are getting involved.

And for every person that is involved, it’s one more positive climate conversation

Climate change is a huge challenge. As a result of human activity, our planet is getting warmer, everywhere. This long-term shift causes disruption to a range of the natural systems and cycles that we are part of.

The UK’s average temperature has already warmed by one degree since the 1950s. Looking ahead, we expect to see warmer and wetter winters, hotter and drier summers, and more frequent and intense weather extremes. The extent of wider impacts of climate change on human health, biodiversity, ocean function, and food production, for example, depend on how we act now.

You can find out more about climate change and the impact it is having on us in UK at the Met Office’s dedicated climate change pages.

The climate stripes are a powerful visual representation of our changing climate, originally produced by Ed Hawkins from the University of Reading. Without numbers, dates, or complicated climate science, they communicate a clear story of global warming, globally and locally, for cities and countries all over the world.

We are creating our own uniquely Yorkshire interpretation – and knitting our stripes for Bradford into a large community art instillation!

You can find out more about the Climate Stripes at showyourstripes.info

We’ve used publicly available met office data to inform our climate stripes. You can find out more about climate change on the Met Office website.

Every action matters,

Every bit of warming matters,

Every year matters,

Every choice matters.

IPCC, 2018

The Priestley Centre for Climate Futures at the University of Leeds has assembled helpful advice and videos on taking meaningful climate action. You can access these resources here.

You might fin it helpful to understand more about your own personal carbon footprint or become more Carbon Literate.

Whatever you do next, let’s all keep talking about what we are doing to fight climate change.

Come and see us in Victoria Hall as part of the Saltaire Arts Trail on the 5th and 6th May, 2024.

For more about the Arts Trail check out Saltaire Inspired’s website.

Visitors come to Saltaire from all over the region to explore the Open Village to see high-quality contemporary artwork in the unique spaces of Saltaire and Shipley, in homes, businesses, creative spaces and windows. In addition, Victoria Hall plays host to the Makers Fair, with over 65 exhibitors showcasing contemporary art, craft and design, and a programme of exhibitions, activities and workshops.

Then we will go on tour!

We will be popping up at venues across West Yorkshire. Just follow us on Instagram for the latest.

If you have a venue, and would like us to come and talk about climate change (and host our display), please get in touch!

Every project has an environmental, social, economic, and climate impact. Seeking sustainability is about balance and compromise, and making the best possible decisions for planet and people. We have been mindful of the impact of our project from day one; our main challenge was the choice of material used in the display.

We have chosen to use 100% British Wool. Wool is a natural and renewable resource. It is biodegradable, does not contribute to micro-plastic pollution, and requires significantly less life-cycle care (washing) than alternative fabrics. We have sourced our wool locally and worked closely with our supplier to ensure high standards of animal welfare.

However, we are also conscious of the whole life cycle carbon impact of wool, relative to synthetic alternatives.

We are working with British Wool and West Yorkshire Spinners to build an accurate picture of the life-cycle carbon and environmental impact of the wool used for the #knitthestripes display. High quality data already exists for the farm to gate stage of the process. We continue to build on this knowledge and maximise the positive impact of this project wherever possible.

The wool used in this display will be re-used for future Craft for Climate projects.

You can read more about sustainability issues on the British Wool website